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FORTUNA FAVOURS THE BRAVE IN DÜSSELDORF

vor 2 Stunden

Back with a bang: Robbie Kruse and Dani Schahin (r.) celebrate a winning return to the Bundesliga away at FC Augsburg on Matchday 1Fortuna goalkeeper Fabian Giefer kept five successive cleansheets before conceding his first-ever Bundesliga goals against FC Schalke 04 on Matchday 6It was a long time coming, but Fortuna are back in the Bundesliga and, with 21 points on the board at the halfway stage, have every chance of securing top-flight football for another season

Düsseldorf - Back in the big time for the first time since 1997, Fortuna Düsseldorf hit the ground running with a Matchday 1 win away at FC Augsburg. Their defensive organisation had tongues wagging, and they showed it was no one-off as they kept a further four clean sheets before shipping their first Bundesliga goals of the campaign at home to FC Schalke 04. Progress may have slowed slightly since, but Norbert Meier's men are making a real fist of avoiding an immediate return to the second tier.

Fortuna went into Matchday 13's home clash with Hamburger SV without a win in seven league outings. The clean sheets had dried up, with their last shut-out coming on Matchday 5, and what's more, their two Bundesliga wins of the season so far had come on the road. Cue the Fortuna faithful having their socks blown off. Robbie Kruse and Stefan Reisinger struck as Fortuna picked up their first Bundesliga home win since 5 April 1997.

stock has gone through the roof this season. The Australian international has found the net twice in 14 outings, laying on a further five of Fortuna's 20 goals to date. The 24-year-old found first-team chances at a premium last season, but has gone on to establish himself as one of Fortuna's irreplacables, covering 171 km and enjoying a pass completion rate of 75.1 per cent.

Aged just 21, goalkeeper started all 17 of Fortuna's Bundesliga outings prior to the winter break. Indeed, no other Fortuna squad member has enjoyed as much playing time as the German, whose reading of the game, command of the backline, cat-like reactions and shot-stopping ability make him one of the hottest goalkeeping prospects in Germany. Manuel Neuer, watch out.

557 - Total numbers of minutes it took for Fortuna to concede a Bundesliga goal.1520 - Length of time, in minutes, goalkeeper Fabian Giefer has been on the pitch.682 - Number of runs made by Robbie Kruse.88.5 - Percentage of passes completed by Jens Langeneke.65 - Amount of saves Giefer has had to make.

"I had a good feeling in training. It was great that I was able to chip in with a goal, but it's even better that we got the three points. Before the season started, I found it difficult to gauge how we would compare to the other Bundesliga sides. With 21 points on the board, [though] we now know that we can hang with anyone, anytime," said Fortuna striker after scoring his fifth Bundesliga goal of the campaign in the 2-1 home win over Hannover 96 on Matchday 17.

Compiled by Christopher Mayer-Lodge

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